Duke wins Republican primary to oppose Rep. Bishop

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) - Republican Greg Duke has won a chance to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop of Columbus.

Unofficial returns showed Duke, a Leesburg optician, defeated Byron businesswoman Vivian Childs by a wide margin in the GOP primary Tuesday in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District. The sprawling district covers much of west and southwest Georgia and includes the cities of Columbus, Macon and Albany.

Duke will take on Bishop in the November general election. The congressman is seeking a 12th term in the U.S. House and had no Democratic primary opponent.

Bishop should have the advantage in his fall re-election bid. Republican lawmakers redrew Bishop’s district in 2011 to pack in more Democratic voters - a trade off that made neighboring districts safer for the GOP.